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Everton controversy to be dug up again after referee appointment vs Coventry City
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- Everton controversy to be dug up again after referee appointment vs Coventry City
Stuart Attwell has been named as the referee for Everton's Premier League clash with Coventry City.
The Toffees have a quick turnaround as they are back in action four days on from beating Newcastle United 1-0.
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That Thierno Barry-inspired victory at St James' Park has helped change the narrative around Everton's campaign.
Moyes' men are now in seventh place and could potentially climb into the top four - temporarily at least - with a win over Coventry.
Frank Lampard will be back on Merseyside as Coventry manager and looking to pull off an upset.
Ahead of Friday night's clash at Hill Dickinson Stadium, news of Attwell's appointment will dig up a recent controversy.
What happened the last time Stuart Attwell refereed Everton?
You do not have to go that far back at all to find the last time experienced whistler Attwell oversaw an Everton match.
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Just six weeks ago, in fact, as he was the referee for Everton's narrow 1-0 home win over Ipswich Town.
That game was won by a solitary Barry goal - again - but that was not the big talking point post-game.
Instead, it was the controversial decision to rule out a second goal for Barry that provided much debate.
Attwell initially gave the goal, before VAR intervened and asked the ref to go over to his pitchside monitor.
It was then adjudged that Brennan Johnson was interfering with play in an offside position, with Attwell ruling the goal out.
Many pundits shared their surprise at the decision, while the Premier League's own panel were split on whether Barry's goal should have stood .
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Thankfully, it did not matter in the end as Barry's opener proved the only goal.
Everton to fulfil transfer priority as Kelvin Yeboah financial figures emerge for January move What's Everton's record with Stuart Attwell in charge?
That was the 35th time Attwell has refereed an Everton game - the joint-most of any side in his career, alongside Newcastle.
Everton have a very good recent record with the 44-year-old in the middle, having won four of the past five and lost just one of the past seven.
Overall, Everton have a record of 15 wins, seven draws and 13 losses under Attwell, who is from Warwickshire.
Opponents Coventry, by comparison, have had Attwell referee just one previous match - a 2-0 Championship win over Middlesbrough in 2024-25.
